Licensing music
We license businesses of every size and type for all kinds of music use, including making music available online, broadcasting it via radio and TV, including it in TV and film productions, releasing it on physical products such as CDs and DVDs, and performing or playing it in public.
Without us, businesses would have to contact thousands of songwriters, composers and music publishers directly to obtain permission to use their music. Likewise, songwriters, composers and music publishers would have to deal with thousands of requests from music users. Through licensing, we make this process simple and straightforward for both parties.
Releasing music products
We license the copying or creating of physical products containing our members' music. This includes CDs, DVDs and magazine cover-mounts.
Online
We license digital services of all types, including ringtones, podcasts, music downloads and streaming, and video on demand services. We license audio-visual services and UK-only music services directly, and pan-European music services via our partnerships with other rights holders.
Broadcast TV and radio
We license hundreds of TV channels, radio stations, and production companies, from major broadcasters, such as the BBC, to small community radio stations.
Public performance
PRS for Music and PPL, the UK’s two music collecting societies, have joined forces to set up PPL PRS Ltd, a joint venture combining the two societies’ public performance licensing activities. PPL PRS Ltd launched the joint licence on 26 February 2018 and offers a single licence, called TheMusicLicence, on behalf of both PRS for Music and PPL, to play or perform music in public.
PPL PRS Ltd license businesses of all types and sizes to play or perform in public our members' music, whether recorded or live. We have more than 350,000 public performance licensees, ranging from large retail chains to independent small businesses.
